USAA vs State Farm: Which is Better for You?
- The Zebra's pick: USAA
- USAA is less expensive and has greater ratings than State Farm.
- Your experience with State Farm and USAA will vary based on individual rating factors.
Why you can trust The Zebra
Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- Associate in Insurance (AINS)
- Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
- Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as a licensed insurance professional and content strategis…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- 5 years of experience in the insurance industry
Kristine joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer, with a property and casualty insurance license. Before joining The Ze…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- 6+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
What's the difference between USAA and State Farm?
While USAA and State Farm offer comparable overall quality as leading car insurance providers, USAA takes the lead with significantly lower average rates, a higher Zebra review score, and stronger trust and reliability scores. However, USAA is available only to members of the military and their immediate families.
Compare personalized quotes from these companies and more to find the best rate.
How The Zebra evaluates insurance companies
| Rating | Explanation | Star rating equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Subpar | Lowest ranking, suggesting instability or high risk | 0-1.9 |
| Fair | Somewhat stable but not consistently reliable | 2-2.9 |
| Good | Generally dependable with moderate stability | 3-3.9 |
| Solid | Strong, reliable and dependable with minor risks | 4-4.4 |
| Exceptional | Highest rating, indicating outstanding stability and reliability | 4.5-5 |
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra evaluates companies by focusing on customer experience first, with an emphasis on service quality, reliability, and ease of interaction. Unlike previous models, pricing is not scored but is instead presented separately as context for comparison.
Each category has been scored using a combination of our internal customer satisfaction survey results and published scores from reputable organizations such as AM Best and J.D. Power.
- Service Accessibility & Support Quality (25%): This category measures how easy it is to get help when needed, evaluating factors such as support channel availability (phone, chat, in-person, app), response times, agent knowledge, service hours, and language accessibility.
- Claims Experience (25%): This category assesses how smoothly the claims process works, considering ease of filing (online, app, or phone), transparency and communication, processing times, and fairness in dispute resolution.
- Digital Experience & Policy Management (25%): This category evaluates the convenience of managing your policy: this includes mobile app usability, website experience, account management, digital document access, self-service options, and platform integrations
- Trust & Reliability (25%): This category looks at a company’s overall reliability, measuring financial strength, market stability, regulatory history, communication transparency, and consistency in policy terms.
Price context: Pricing varies significantly based on individual circumstances and risk factors. Customers can evaluate cost-effectiveness based on their specific situation and the service quality scores provided.
USAA: Cheap with great customer service
✅ What customers like:
- Mobile App Functionality and Usability: Manage claims, payments, and documents from your phone.
- Financial Strength Ratings: USAA's strong ratings indicate the carrier can pay claims during major events.
🚫 What customers don't like:
- Communication During Claims Process: Poor communication forces you to chase down claim updates
- Dispute Resolution Fairness: USAA's unfair resolution can leave valid claims unpaid.
State Farm: Strong digital support but claims move slowly
✅ What customers like:
- Availability of Support Channels: Get help through your preferred method—phone, chat, app, or in-person.
- Mobile App Functionality and Usability: Manage claims, payments, and documents from your phone.
🚫 What customers don't like:
- Transparency in Process and Timeline: Lack of transparency leaves you uncertain about claim status.
- Average Processing Time: Slow processing delays reimbursement when you need funds.
How much is car insurance with USAA and State Farm?
USAA charges $835 for a full coverage, 6-month auto policy; State Farm's average rate for the same policy is $1,133.[1]
💡 The national average for a 6-month full coverage car insurance policy is $1,084. For liability-only, it's $356.
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| Company | Full Coverage | Liability | Difference from National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,048 | $355 | 0.1% about the same |
| USAA | $781 | $262 | -25.4% ▼ |
Source: The Zebra
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Location makes a huge difference in auto insurance costs, down to your ZIP code. Select your state from the drop-down list below to see average rates from State Farm and USAA.
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| Coverage | State Farm | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| 50/100/50 BI/PD with $500 Deductible | $816 | $717 |
| State Minimum Liability Only | $254 | $221 |
Source: The Zebra
In most states, car insurance companies use your credit score to determine risk. Those with a lower credit score are often saddled with higher premiums, while improved credit tiers are rewarded with lower rates.
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Source: The Zebra
California, Hawaii, Michigan, and Massachusetts do not use credit scores in insurance ratings.
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| Age Group | State Farm | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| 16-19 | $3,231 | $1,997 |
| 20s | $1,909 | $1,178 |
| 30s | $1,163 | $812 |
| 40s | $1,300 | $824 |
| 50s | $1,082 | $748 |
| 60+ | $1,393 | $1,010 |
Source: The Zebra
Above all, insurance companies care about your driving history. This means accidents, tickets, lapses in coverage, and other violations. Drivers with many accidents pose a greater risk, and pay the price for it.
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Source: The Zebra
Does USAA or State Farm offer better discounts?
🏆 Winner: USAA
While the competition is tight, USAA wins again by offering a few more discount opportunities than State Farm.
64% of Zebra customers say their insurer fails to proactively identify discounts for which they may be eligible.[2] Since those savings can significantly lower your premium, it’s worth factoring in when choosing a provider.
Take a look at the discount options from both USAA and State Farm below.
Featured discounts at USAA:
🚙 Driver training
🚙 Safe driver discount
🚙 New vehicle
Featured discounts at State Farm:
🚗 Drive Safe & Save® (telematics)
🚗 Steer Clear® (driver education)
🚗 Anti-theft
*Availability of discounts can sometimes vary by state. Contact your agent to verify availability and eligibility.
USAA vs. State Farm additional coverage options
🏆 Winner: State Farm
By a hair, State Farm wins this category by offering more add-on coverage than USAA.
Most insurance providers offer the same standard set of auto insurance coverages— liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist and medical payments can be expected from State Farm and USAA. These companies also offer additional, optional coverages to their customers:
| Coverage | Does USAA offer it? | Does State Farm offer it? |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside assistance |
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| Rideshare insurance |
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| Gap insurance | ||
| Custom parts and equipment | ||
| Rental car reimbursement |
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| Accident forgiveness | ||
| New car replacement |
Considering USAA or State Farm?
Does State Farm cover rodent damage to my car's electrical wiring through comprehensive coverage?
Will my State Farm car insurance cover damage to a person's balcony?
Does State Farm match auto insurance quotes with other companies?
Does State Farm require you have a police report to file a claim?
The bottom line: Which company is better for you?
Only current and former military members are eligible for USAA car insurance. If that applies to you, USAA is a strong choice. For everyone else, State Farm’s open eligibility makes it a better fit for a wider range of drivers.
Still, there is no ideal company that suits every driver. Each shopper has unique needs and preferences that may be weighted differently.
- For budget-conscious drivers: USAA
- For drivers with extra coverage needs: State Farm
- For drivers with a history of accidents: USAA
- For drivers with poor credit history: USAA
Dive deeper into each company
The experts at The Zebra have thoroughly reviewed major car insurance companies to assist you in choosing a provider. Learn even more about each company from their full reviews.
USAA Insurance Review
Reviews and ratings for USAA rate it a solid company with a 4.1/5 score in 2026. Read USAA's reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
State Farm Insurance Review
Reviews and ratings for State Farm rate it a good company with a 3.6/5 score in 2026. Read State Farm's reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
Frequently asked questions: USAA vs State Farm
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Data Methodology. The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool
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Anonymized User Surveys. The Zebra
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.
